Nanocarrier from water extract solution of Auricularia auricula for zinc delivery

• Published in: Food hydrocolloids for health 2022-12, Vol.2, p.100070, Article 100070
• Main Authors: Yu, Xiaoting, Chen, Yannan, Xing, Shanghua, Yu, Deyang, Tan, Mingqian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Auricularia auricula; Biocompatibility; Biodistribution; Food-borne nanoparticles; Nanocarrier; Zinc delivery
• ISSN: 2667-0259; 2667-0259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fhfh.2022.100070

•FNs from Auricularia auricula water extract solution were used as zinc nanocarrier.•Zn(II)-FNs were synthesized simply by a one-step water bath heating method.•Good biocompatibility was found for Zn(II)-FNs to NRK cells and red blood cells.•Zn(II)-FNs were mainly distributed in stomach, intestine, lung, liver and kidney. Food-borne nanoparticles (FNs) may have potential for microelement delivery due to their good biocompatibility and healthy benefits. In this paper, hydrophilic FNs with ultra-small size of 1.7 nm were prepared from the water extract solution of Auricularia auricula by hydrothermal method. The structural characterization showed that Zn(II)-FNs were formed after the interaction of abundant functional groups like amino, hydroxyl, and carboxyl functional groups on the surface of FNs with Zn2+. The Zn(II)-FNs showed better cell compatibility than ZnSO4 and zinc gluconate with no visible cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 75 μg/mL for the normal rat kidney cells. Less than 5% hemolysis rate was found when the concentration of Zn(II)-FNs was 5 mg/mL after incubation for 3h. The biodistribution experiments indicated that Zn(II)-FNs had no obvious toxic effect after being orally administrated at a dose of 500 mg/kg mouse body weight, and Zn(II)-FNs were present in the stomach, intestine, lung, liver, and kidney. Our data indicated that FNs collected from Auricularia auricula water extract solution might act as a safe and effective nanocarrier for Zn(II). [Display omitted]